Files Comparison - No Missing Files

[johnbil]

I would like to get some opinions on how to clean up my PC's files. I have a bad habit of creating multiple backups. I am looking for the best way to clean things up so I can delete the extra backups.

I have a current folder with about 10 subfolders, let's call it the 'Main' folder. I have about four other folders, with 10 subfolders, which contain previous backups of the 'Main' folder. They contain almost all same files. I want to make sure the nothing is missing from 'Main' that was not copied over from the other folders at some point. Then I could delete the other folders safely. I had some PC problems and had to do a reinstall.

What's the best way to handle this? I have tried duplicate finders, compare programs, and file sync programs, but the results seem inconsistent to me. How should I handle this? Could someone recommend the best type of software for this?

 

[rgd1101]

ccleaner include a duplicate file finder
https/www.piriform.com/docs/ccleaner/using-ccleaner/finding-duplicate-files/using-the-file-finder

 

[mwryder55]

You could use XCopy to copy the other folders to Main and tell it to skip newer files. This will leave Main with the newest version of all the files in the other folders.

 

[johnbil]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I'll give them a try.

 

[hang-the-9]

I would like to get some opinions on how to clean up my PC's files. I have a bad habit of creating multiple backups. I am looking for the best way to clean things up so I can delete the extra backups.

I have a current folder with about 10 subfolders, let's call it the 'Main' folder. I have about four other folders, with 10 subfolders, which contain previous backups of the 'Main' folder. They contain almost all same files. I want to make sure the nothing is missing from 'Main' that was not copied over from the other folders at some point. Then I could delete the other folders safely. I had some PC problems and had to do a reinstall.

What's the best way to handle this? I have tried duplicate finders, compare programs, and file sync programs, but the results seem inconsistent to me. How should I handle this? Could someone recommend the best type of software for this?

This is no way to do a backup, backing things up on the same hard drive, and especially in the same folder as the original is like keeping a spare set of keys inside your car in-case you get locked out instead of in the house.

Once you sort out the files, get rid of everything except the original. Get a second hard drive, copy the folder to that drive. I've used Syncback http/www.2brightsparks.com/download-syncbackfree.html to run backups as well as a free MS tool called SyncToy https/www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=15155